Carton pouring spout



R. M. DUNNING CARTON POURING SPOUT May 30, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 11 FiledSept. 26, 1946 May 30, 1950 R. M. DUNNING CARTON PQURING sPoUT 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. `26, 1946 Invencor QM Gi@ .Patentecl May 30,1950 CARTON POURING SPOUT Robert M. Dunning, St. Paul, Minn., assignerto Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation ofMinnesota Application September 26, 1946, Serial No. 699,493

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) My invention relates to an improvement in cartonpouring spout wherein it is desired to provide a convenient means ofdispensing the contents of a carton or the like.

The object of the present invention is to provide a pouring spout whichmay be incorporated in a rectangular carton of any common form. Thepouring spout is formed of portions of three adjoining panels. Thesepanel portions may be easily folded to form a projecting pouring spoutor folded into coplanar relation with the remainder of their respectivepanels.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that cartonscontaining my pouring spout will cost no more than similar cartons notcontaining the pouring spout except in the cost of the forming die. Noadditional carton stock is required to produce the spout.

A feature of the present invention lies in the simplicity with which thespout may be opened and closed. Score lines are provided to simplify thefolding of the carton stock. The spout is folded into projectingposition by merely squeezing together portions of opposed carton walls.The spout is closed by pushing the projecting spout inwardly into closedposition.

A feature of the present invention resides in the formation of a pouringspout formed of por tions of three adjoining panels of the carton. Aperforated line or a cut line is provided in the carton near the upperextremity thereof, which line extends across a side wall panel of thecarton and continues partially across the two adjoining wall panels. Thepouring spout may be separated along its upper edge from the remainderof the panels in which the spout is formed by merely pressing the cartonstock inwardly adjacent the perforations. By pressing inwardly onopposite sides of the carton below the perforated line, the spout may befolded into projecting position.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the provision of apouring spout which may be held in open or closed position. In thepreferred form of my invention the spout is so shaped that the sidesthereof will be engaged by portions of the side wall panel from whichthe spout is partially formed. This engagement is such as to hold thespout in projecting position. When the spout is forced inwardly theupper edge thereof engages inwardly of the side wall and is held inplace thereby.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be moreclearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specilcation:

Figure l is a plan view of my carton before assembly thereof.

Figure 2 is a, perspective view of my carton in closed position thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of my carton with the spout thereofprojecting therefrom.

Figure 4 is a. top plan view of my carton with the spout in projectingposition.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of my carton with the spout thereofin projecting position.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of a modified form of carton. i

The carton A illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings may be of anysimple type. For the sake of convenience the carton illustrated is ofthe regular paste end type. The carton could similarly be of otherstyles without changing the invention.

The carton A includes a side wall panel i9, a front panel il, a sidewall panel i2 and a rear wall panel I3 connected along parallel foldlines it, i5, and it. A glue flap il is connected to the panel i3 alonga. fold line i9 parallel to the previously described fold lines. Theglue: flap il is designed to overlap the marginal edge of the panel itland be adhered thereto to secure the box in tubular formation.

The upper edges of the panels i0. lli, llt, and

i3 are connected to closing flaps 2li, 2i, 22, and f3, respectively,along a common fold line 2t. Similarly the lower edges of the wallpanels i9, il, it, and i3 are connected to closing flaps 25, 26, 2l and29 along a common fold line 29. The closing flaps on the upper and loweredges of the carton are adhered in superimposed relation in sealedcondition of the carton as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of thedrawings.

.A fold line 39 extends across one wall panel such as the panel i2 inparallel relation to the fold lines 24 and 29 and spaced between thesame. A pair of fold lines 3i and 3,2 extend from the juncture of thefold line 3|) with the fold lines i5 and i6 to a common apex 33.. Aperforated line 3i extends across the panel t2 from the fold line i5 tothe fold line iii at a point spaced from the fold line 2d, but adjacentthereto. A perforated line 35 extends from the juncture of theperforated line 3d with the fold line i5 parallel to the fold line 24for a substantial distance into the panel ii. A similar fold line 36forms a continuation of the perforated line 34 and extends parallel tothe fold line 24 for a substantial distance into the panel i3. Adiagonally extending fold line 31 connects the extremity of theperforated line 35 to the juncture between the fold lines 30 and I5. Asimilar fold line 33 connects the extremity of the perforated line 36 atthe juncture of the fold lines 30 and I6. Fold lines 46 and 4I are alsoprovided connecting the extremities of the perforated lines 35 and 36 tothe fold line 24 as illustrated.

The perforated line 34 extending across the panel I2 is usually curvedto provide a. pair of downwardly projecting tabs 42 and 43. These tabsare provided for the purpose of holding the spout in projected positionas will later be described in detail.

When the carton is folded as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings thewall panels remain intact during shipping and transportation. When it isdesired to use the pouring spout to dispense the contents of the cartoninward pressure is exerted on opposite sides of the carton in thetriangular areas 44 and 45 thereof. The triangular area 44 is bounded bythe perforated line 35, the fold line 31, and a portion of the fold linel5. The triangular area 45 is bounded by the fold line 39, perforatedline 36 and a portion of the fold line i6. This inward pressure on thetriangular areas 44 and 45 tends to urge these portions of the cartoninwardly, which acts to urge the portion of the carton immediately belowthe perforated line 34 on the panel i2 outwardly. When the perforatedlines 34, 35, and 36 are broken, pressure on the triangular areas 44 and45 urges the spout into the position shown in Figures 3, 4, and of thedrawings, the spout projecting outwardly from the panel i2 to permitpouring of the contents.

As the spout is pressed into projecting position, the upper edge of thespout passes beneath the downwardly projecting tabs 42 and 43 whichtends to lock the spout in the projecting position illustrated inFigures 3, 4, and 5. By pressing on the spout near the apex 33 thereofand pressing the upper edge of the spout beneath the portion of thepanel I2 above the perforated line 34, the spout tends to remain inclosed position.

The score lines 40 and 4I are provided to assist in holding the spout inclosed position. These score lines tend to pull the overhanging portionof the carton lying over the pouring spout downwardly at its free edge.The formation of the crease line uses a small amount of paper stock,thus tending to pull the portion of the carton above the spoutdownwardly when the spout is opened. Furthermore the torn stock alongthe perforated line tends to interengage and hold the spout in closedposition when pressed inwardly as previously described.

If desired the perforated line 34 may extend straight across the panelI2 rather than along the curved path as shown. Furthermore if desiredthe lines 34, 35, and 36 may be weakened lines of separation other thanperforated lines or the carton may be cut along these lines to producethe spout described. Furthermore the carton closures need not be of thespecific type illustrated to accomplish the desired result.

It should be noted that the carton spout is composed of a generallytriangular area 46 bounded by the fold lines 30, 3I and 32; a generallytriangular area 41 bounded by the fold line 3l, a portion of the foldline I5, and a portion of the perforated line 34; a similar generallytriangular area 49 bounded by the fold line 42, a portion of the foldline I6, and a, portion of the perforated line 34, and the previouslydescribed triangular areas 44 and 45. The spout is formed by folding thetriangular area 44 into substantially coplanar relation with thegenerally triangular area 41 and by folding the triangular area ,45 intosubstantially coplanar relation with the generally triangular area 49.This action causes the triangular area 46 to swing forwardly forming thepouring spout. It is not necessary that the fold lines 3| and 32 cometogether at the apex of the spout as these lines may be spaced somewhatat their upper extremity.

In Figure 6 of the drawings I disclose a modifled form of constructionwhich is generally similar to that previously described. The carton Billustrated in this ligure includes wall panels 50, 5I, 52, and 53connected by parallel fold lines 54, 55 and 56. A glue flap 51 isconnected to the panel 53 along a fold line 59. The glue flap 51 isdesigned to overlap the panel 50 and be adhered thereto to secure thecarton in tubular formation.

Closing aps 60, 6I 62 and 53 are foldably connected to the upper edgesof the respective wall panels along a. common fold line 64. Closingiiaps 65, 66, 61, and 69 are connected to the lower edges of therespective wall panels along a common fold line 10. The closing flapsare designed to fold and be secured in overlapping relation to seal theends of the carton.

A fold line 1I extends across the panel 52 at a point substantiallyspaced from the upper and lower edges thereof. A perforated line 12extends across the panel 52 near the upper extremity thereof. Theperforated line 12 preferably is arcuated downwardly from a point nearthe fold lines 55 and 56. A perforated line 13 forms a continuation ofthe perforated line 12 extending into the panel 5I spaced from the topedge thereof. A similar perforated line 14 extends into the panel 53along a line substantially parallel the upper edge of this panel. Ascore line 15 connects the free end of the perforated line 13 to thejuncture between the fold lines 55 and 1I. A similar score line 16connects the free end of the perforated line 14 to the juncture betweenfold lines 1I and 56. Diverging fold lines 11 and 19 extend fromopposite ends of the fold line 1I toward the mid-point of the perforatedline 12. Score lines and 8l extend from the free ends of the perforatedlines 13 and 14 to the fold line 64.

The carton B is folded similarly to the carton A and operates in a verysimilar manner. Upon breaking the perforations along the perforatedlines 12, 13 and 14, a spout may be formed by pressing inwardly onopposite sides of the carton within the triangular areas 62 and 83. Thetriangular area 82 is bounded by the fold line 15, a portion of the foldline 55, and the perforated line 13. The triangular area 83 is Aboundedby the fold line 16, a portion of the fold line 56 and the perforatedline 14. The upper edge of the spout thus formed will bind against thedownwardly curved edge of the perforated line 12, thus holding the spoutin open position. By pressing inwardly at the center of the spout thetop edge thereof may be engaged interiorly of the portion of the panel52 lying above the perforated line 12, thus holding the spout in closedposition.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my carton pouring spout, and while Ihave endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire tohave it understood that c s obvious changes may be made within the scopeof the following claims without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim: -1

l., A carton blank including a series of foldably 'connected panels, aperforatedline extending across one panel and into the two adjacentpanels on opposite sides thereof, said perforated line being positionednear the upper edges of said panels, diagonal fold lines in saidadjacent panels extending from the extremities of said perforated lineto opposed juncture points on the fold lines connecting said adjacentpanels to said one panel,

and converging fold lines in said one panel from said juncture points tosaid perforated line, said perforated line across said one panel beingof waved conguration and providing two spaced projections extendingtoward said juncture pOints. j

2. A carton blank including :a series of foldably connected panels, aperforatedline extend- 'ing across one pan`e1 and into the two adjacentpanels on opposite sides thereof, said perforated line being positionednear the upper edges of said panels, diagonal fold lines in saidadjacent i juncture points, and score lines connecting the ends of saidperforated line to the upper edges of said adjacent panels.

ROBERT M. DUNNING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number Name 1,541,143 Hoile June 9, 19251,739,529 Skinner Dec. 17, 1929 2,097,647 Scott Nov. 2, 1937 2,323,505Wilcox July 6i. 1943 2,421,141 Carr May 27, 1947

